Device and Method for Regulating the Injection of a Quantity of Reducer in the Gaseous Phase

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 16 ) for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in the gaseous phase, comprising: a reducer supply channel ( 18 ), a pressure regulator ( 20 ) for regulating the pressure in the channel, members ( 24 ) for detecting the pressure downstream of the regulator ( 20 ), a reducer injector ( 22 ), and a computer controlling the injector according to the measured pressure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the US National stage, under 35 U.S.C. §371, of International App. No. PCT/FR2010/051581 which was filed on Jul. 26, 2010 and claims priority to French Application No. 0956182 which was filed on Sep. 10, 2009, and which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a device for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase. A method is also proposed for implementing this device.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) originating from the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines are linked to human health problems and are a key element in the formation of “smog” (pollution clouds) in cities. The legislature is imposing increasingly strict levels for their reduction and/or their elimination from mobile or fixed sources. To this end, a proven effective solution consists of chemical reduction of NOx by addition of a reducing agent such as NH₃ (ammonia) upstream of a catalyst employing a specific selective catalytic reduction (or SCR). This solution enables a diesel engine to comply with increasingly strict emission levels.

The problem faced by SCR is to bring the ammonia necessary for the NOx reduction in the exhaust. The reducer must be stored on the vehicle. Several concepts were developed to store the ammonia on board: in the form of solid urea, in the form of liquid urea, in aqueous solution, in the form of ammonium carbamate, etc.

Document FR-A-2 725 245 discloses a device for supplying an internal combustion engine with fuel. The device comprises a pump designed to draw fuel from a reservoir and an element sensitive to the pressure existing in the supply line without bypass, connected to the outlet of the pump and adapted to pilot the start up of the pump. The device comprises furthermore an expansion regulator placed in series in the supply line without bypass, connected to the outlet of the pump, upstream of the location where the fuel is used.

Document EP-A-1 198 740 describes a device for measuring the flow of a fluid through a pressure regulator, whereby the device comprises pressure sensors upstream and downstream of the regulator.

Document US-A-2008 022670 discloses a device for injecting liquid urea in an exhaust line. It uses a pressure regulator for the liquid urea and a pressure sensor for the urea. The pressure sensor measures the pressure of the urea supplied to the injector and the regulator regulates the incoming pressure. When said incoming pressure becomes too high, the urea returns to the urea reservoir.

The disadvantage of storing and using liquid urea or urea in aqueous solution is the requirement for large reservoirs, which creates additional weight for the vehicle. For this reason, the use of a reducing gas is preferred, but here the problem is in developing an architecture for controlling the quantity of injected reducing gas.

BRIEF SUMMARY

To this end, a device for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase comprising a reducer supply line, a pressure regulator in the line, instruments for detecting the pressure downstream of the regulator, a reducer injector, and a processor controlling the injection in function of the measured pressure are provided.

In a variant, the device further comprises instruments for detecting the pressure upstream of the regulator, whereby the downstream pressure detection instrument, and if necessary the upstream instrument, are for example a pressure sensor or a pressure switch.

In a variant, the device further comprises a temperature sensor downstream and/or upstream of the pressure regulator.

In a variant, the regulator comprises a first reducer entry chamber, a second chamber that routes the reducer towards the injector, a passage for the reducer between the first chamber and the second chamber, whereby the passage is obturated above a pressure threshold in the second chamber and the passage is open below this pressure threshold, so that the pressure downstream of the regulator can be increased.

In a variant, the passage extends through a piston rod that connects the first and second chambers. The rod supports a piston head movable in translation in the second chamber. A spring pushes against the head of the piston and is suitable for opening the passage when the pressure in the second chamber is lower than the threshold and suitable for closing the passage when the pressure in the second chamber is higher than the threshold.

In a variant, the reducer in gaseous phase comprises ammonia (NH₃), hydrogen (H₂), or hydrocarbons (HC).

The device also includes a post treatment line for exhaust gas, which comprises one or more storage reservoirs for a reducer in gaseous phase, and wherein the device is connected to the reservoir(s).

Also disclosed is a method for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase in this type of post treatment line for exhaust gas. The method comprises supplying a reducer to the injector, regulating the pressure downstream of the regulator, detecting the pressure downstream of the regulator, and, controlling the opening time of the injector through the processor in function of the measured pressure.

In a variant, the method further comprises the detection of the pressure upstream of the regulator, and emission of a fault signal when the pressure upstream and/or downstream of the regulator is above or below a threshold.

In a variant, adapted to controlling a line comprising a plurality of reservoirs, the method further comprises the detection of the pressure upstream of the regulator, and switching the supply of reducer to the line from one reservoir to another when the detected pressure upstream of the regulator is below the threshold.

In a variant, the method further comprises a step of measuring the temperature downstream and/or upstream of the regulator, by measuring the temperature or by using a model, while the opening time of the injector is also controlled by the processor as a function of the temperature.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clear by reading the following detailed description of the implementation modes of the invention, provided only as an example and with reference to the drawings which show:

FIG. 1, a vehicle equipped with a post treatment line for exhaust gas;

FIG. 2, a regulating device for the reducer injection; and

FIG. 3, a pressure regulator.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A device and a method for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase are disclosed. The device comprises a reducer supply line and a pressure regulator in the line. The device also comprises detection instruments for the pressure downstream of the regulator and a pressure controlled reducer injector. The device also comprises a processor controlling the injector as a function of the measured pressure. The processor allows for precise control of the reducer gas flow. Furthermore, this architecture controls the flow with a reduced number of components, which reduces the cost of the assembly.

FIG. 1 shows a vehicle 10 comprising a line 12 for post treatment of exhaust gas. Vehicle 10 comprises an engine 14, for instance a diesel engine, to which line 12 is connected. Line 12 can comprise different exhaust gas treatment sites. For instance, line 12 can comprise a denitrification site 15. The DeNOx denitrification site 15 comprises a catalyst causing the reduction of NOx by reaction with ammonia injected in line 12. Other sites can be present in the line but are not shown.

FIG. 1 also shows a device 16 for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase. Device 16 allows for the injection of a reducer in gaseous phase. The reducer is, for instance, hydrogen (H₂) or hydrocarbons (HC). The reducer can also be ammonia (NH₃) used in site 15. The advantage of injecting a reducer in gaseous phase is that it does not require preliminary transformation of a liquid reducer into a gaseous reducer, since this transformation must take place in very special conditions which can be difficult to create. Furthermore, larger quantities of reducer in gaseous phase can be available on board of the vehicle for a much smaller storage weight. Device 16 is connected to one or more reservoirs 17 which store the reducer. For instance, reservoir 17 can be comprised of storage by absorption of NH₃ in a XCl₂ type salt. The gas is released by adding heat or by lowering the pressure.

FIG. 2 shows device 16 in more detail. Device 16 comprises a reducer supply line 18. Line 18 is connected to reservoir 17. The reducer is routed towards line 12 through line 18 starting from reservoir 17. Device 16 further comprises a regulator 20 for the pressure inside the line. Regulator 20 controls the pressure of the reducer. Regulator 20 will be better described with reference to FIG. 3. Injector 22 injects the reducer in line 12. The injector controls the flow of the reducer. In particular, device 16 controls injector 22 by varying the injection time of the reducer as a function of the reducer pressure in line 18. This allows for precise control of the reducing gas flow and for the reduction of NOx. Injector 22 is, for instance a needle injector or a membrane injector, both of which are well known.

Regulator 20 brings the reducer to a pressure suitable for injection in line 12. Regulator 20 can reduce the pressure based on the status of the line 12. Indeed, injector 22 functions at fixed pressure, and since the reducer pressure fluctuates significantly because of its gaseous state, the role of regulator 20 is to regulate the pressure upstream of injector 22. Since the pressure at the outlet of reservoir 17 can vary from 0 to 300 bar, or more generally, from 0.1 bar to 30 bar, the regulator stabilizes the pressure upstream of injector 22. Therefore, the device uses the regulation of the pressure in conjunction with the opening time of the injector to define the quantity of supplied gas.

FIG. 3 shows an example of an embodiment of regulator 20. The regulator is based on a mechanical principle. Regulator 20 increases the pressure downstream of the regulator if the pressure is below a pressure threshold for injection in line 12. This ensures that the reducer pressure is sufficiently high for a suitable injection, and for a suitable reduction of the toxic substances present in the exhaust gas. The regulator can comprise a first chamber 32 in which the reducer enters through the bias of a channel 34 connected to line 18.

Regulator 20 further comprises a second chamber 36 that routes the reducer towards injector 22 through the bias of a channel 38 connected to line 18. The pressure of the reducer entering the first chamber is high and the pressure of the reducer leaving the second chamber is low.

The line comprises a reducer passage 40 between the first chamber 32 and the second chamber 36. Passage 40 is closed when the pressure in the second chamber 36 is above a predetermined threshold. Passage 40 is open when the pressure in the second chamber 36 is below the predetermined threshold. Furthermore, if the pressure in the first chamber becomes higher than the pressure in the second chamber, the reducer will flow towards the second chamber through the bias of passage 40. This increases the pressure in the second chamber and therefore the pressure upstream of injector 22.

In more detailed manner, passage 40 extends through a piston rod 42 that connects the two chambers 32 and 36. Passage 40 is a routing channel through which the reducer can circulate from one chamber to the other. Rod 42 extends from one chamber to the other through a wall 43 of the regulator separating the two chambers. Rod 42 supports a piston head 44. The head 44 is movable in translation in the second chamber 36. A spring 46 pushes against the head of the piston 44 in translation in the second chamber 36. Spring 46 is for instance held in compression between piston head 44 and wall 43.

When the pressure in the second chamber 36 diminishes and the pressure in the second chamber 36 drops below the predetermined threshold, spring 46 pushes the head 44 in the direction of channel 38. This opens the orifice in the extremity of passage 40, situated in the first chamber 32. Since the pressure is now higher in the first chamber 32, the reducer passes through the orifice in passage 40 and flows through the orifice at the other end of passage 40, situated in the second chamber 36. When the pressure in the second chamber 36 is sufficiently high to counteract the force of spring 46, the pressure in the second chamber 36 pushes the head 44 of the piston in direction of the wall 43 against spring 46. The orifice located at the extremity of passage 40, situated in the first chamber 32, is pressed against the body of regulator 20 and is closed. The reducer can then no longer circulate from the first chamber 32 to the second chamber 36.

Spring 46 is rated to regulate the pressure upstream of the injector 32 regardless of the pressure upstream of the regulator 20.

O-rings ensure sealing between piston head 44 and the regulator body and between piston rod 42 and the regulator body, in particular wall 43.

Device 16 further comprises detection instruments 24 for measuring the pressure downstream of regulator 20. The detection instruments 24 are used to determine whether the pressure upstream of injector 22 is too high or too low relative to the pressure required for injection in line 12. Consequently, the processor controls the injector as a function of the measured pressure, and in particular the opening time of the injector.

Device 16 further comprises detection instruments 26 for measuring the pressure upstream of regulator 20. The detection instruments 26 can be used to pilot the reservoir(s) 17. The information of instruments 26 is also supplied to the processor. For instance, if the instruments 26 detect a large increase in pressure on the side of the reservoir(s) 17, this could indicate that the reservoirs 17 have released too much reducer. Inversely, if the pressure is too low and beyond a certain threshold, this could indicate that the reservoir(s) 17 are about to be exhausted. In case the vehicle comprises several reservoirs 17, for instance two reservoirs 17, the processor can command a switch of the reducer supply to the line from one reservoir 17 to another and signal that one of the reservoirs needs to be changed. In this way, several reservoirs can be used automatically.

Pressure detection instruments 24, 26 are also used for determining the state of the device, namely whether the device 16 is functional or dysfunctional. In other words, detection instruments 24, 26 detect the proper functioning of regulator 20, or an anomaly. For instance, instruments 24 can be used for detecting the proper state of the spring. The information of instruments 24 is delivered to a processor which determines the proper functioning of the regulator, and in particular of spring 46. The instruments 24 are connected to the processor, in order to supply it with information relative to the pressure upstream of injector 22. Instruments 26 can detect a malfunction of one or more reservoirs. The processor can send an anomaly signal to inform the driver of the malfunction.

Instruments 24 and 26 are for instance pressure switches. Pressure switches, such as those disclosed in document FR-A-2 275 245, are used for converting a pressure to an electrical signal, which is sent to the processor. The movements of a membrane in a chamber, as a function of the pressure in the chamber, open or close an electrical contact which sends, or stops sending, the electrical signal. The signal is a binary signal. It can be envisaged that one or two pressures switches are installed for each instrument 24 and 26. The advantage of two pressure switches is the redundancy in case of failure of one pressure switch. Instruments 24 and 26 can also be pressure sensors. One pressure sensor for each instrument 24, 26 is sufficient because of its reliability.

Temperature sensors 30, 31 can be present upstream and/or downstream of regulator 20. The processor can then also control the opening time of the injector as a function of the temperature. This provides a refined measurement of the reducer pressure, which varies as a function of the temperature in line 38. The temperature information can also be obtained by calculation, in particular by means of a model. This method avoids the use of supplementary sensors. 

1. A device for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase comprising a line supplying the reducer, a pressure regulator in the line, pressure detection instruments downstream of regulator, a reducer injector, and a processor controlling the injector as a function of the measured pressure.
 2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising pressure detection instruments upstream of regulator.
 3. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor downstream and/or upstream of the pressure regulator.
 4. The device according to claim 1, the regulator further comprising a first reducer entry chamber, a second chamber routing the reducer towards the injector, a reducer passage between the first chamber and the second chamber, whereby the reducer passage is blocked above a certain pressure threshold in the second chamber and the reducer passage is open below this pressure threshold.
 5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the reducer passage is in a piston rod that extends between the first and second chambers, the rod supporting a piston head which is movable axially in the second chamber, and a spring that pushes against the piston head and is suitable for opening the reducer passage when the pressure in the second chamber is lower than the threshold pressure and suitable for closing the reducer passage when the pressure in the second chamber is higher than the pressure threshold.
 6. The device according to claim 1, further comprising a post treatment line for exhaust gas, having one or more reservoirs for storing reducer in gaseous phase.
 7. A method for regulating the injection of a quantity of reducer in gaseous phase in a line comprising the steps of supplying reducer to an injector, regulating the pressure downstream of a regulator, detecting the pressure downstream of the regulator, and, controlling the opening time of the injector by a processor as a function of the measured pressure.
 8. The method according to claim 7, of further comprising detecting the pressure upstream of the regulator, and emitting an anomaly signal when the pressure upstream and/or downstream of the regulator is above or below a threshold.
 9. The method according to claim 7, whereby a post treatment line comprises a plurality of reservoirs, the method further comprising the step of detecting the pressure upstream of the regulator, and switching the reducer supply to the line from one reservoir to another when the detected pressure upstream of the regulator is beyond a threshold.
 10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising a step of measuring the temperature upstream and/or downstream of the regulator, through measurement of the temperature or through the use of a model, whereby the opening time of an injector is also controlled by a processor as a function of temperature. 